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The UK’s wedding habits revealed

Posted on March 26, 2019

It’s officially wedding season, as brides and grooms-to-be across the country prepare to walk down the aisle in spring or summer. In the spirit of the season Ravel took a look at the most searched proposal, wedding, honeymoon, hen and stag queries to see what brides and grooms-to-be were looking for before the big day.

The proposal

The proposal is where it all begins. If you have planned it well you will manage to catch your other half off-guard, or maybe you have already discussed your future so it is anticipated. There are many ways to propose, the key is to find a way that suits your and your partner, whether that be a low-key home proposal or a big-scale attention grabber.

When we delved into our search results, it seems most grooms-to-be were searching for the classic, romantic dinner proposal. Searches around dinner proposals included looking for local restaurants that fit the bill to searching for ways to pop the question over dinner. Don’t forget the classic ring in the champagne if you’re stuck for inspiration.

Perhaps surprisingly, the second most popular way to propose was to organise a flash mob. Granted, a flash mob isn’t for the shy couple. The reason this method could be one of the most popular searched is the planning and organisation it would take, as your proposer would have to recruit a team and find a suitable venue.

Many of the ways to propose stuck to tradition. Proposing at home, at the beach and on holiday all made the top 10. Other methods making the list, however, had more controversial ideas included. Coming 9th in the top 10 ways to propose was ‘at another wedding’, we can’t imagine the happy couple on the day being too thrilled with a proposal happening to steal their thunder.

Other ways to propose included taking their partner to a Disney park to ask the question, with another being to offer the ultimate Christmas present by asking on Christmas Day. We’d hope the recipient of a Christmas Day proposal would be inclined to say yes or that could make for an awkward turkey dinner with the family later on.

The stag and hen dos

Both stag and hen dos can be had in the UK and abroad, depending on your choice and budget, but where are people commonly looking for a girl’s or lad’s getaway? We have the answers for both UK and international options.

In the UK it seems brides are searching most commonly for hen parties in Liverpool, whilst grooms are looking south at Exeter most commonly. For hen dos the top take covers most corners of the UK, including London, Edinburgh, Manchester and Belfast all in the top 10. Other locations included Newcastle, York, Bath, Glasgow and Brighton for hens.

The top UK stag locations had a lot of crossover with the hens, but with the inclusion of Exeter, Cardiff and Nottingham in replacement of Glasgow, Bath and Belfast. It seems both stag and hens are happy to travel anywhere in the country to find the perfect party spot to enjoy a last night of freedom.

There were more differences in the choices of stag and hens internationally, as the top destination for stags was Prague and the top choice for hens was Marbella. It seems the ladies prefer a bit of sun whilst the guys are more keen on a city break.

In the top 10 hen locations a few sunny destinations made the list, Ibiza, Benidorm, Croatia, Magaluf and Barcelona. Alternate places which offer more variety for hens included; Paris, Las Vegas, Dublin and Amsterdam. Luckily at Ravel we’re prepared to style out any manner of hen do with our choice of sandals and heels.

For the stag do choices, cities were more present and guys were searching for more unusual places to visit with Riga, Budapest, Bratislava and Krakow in the top 10. Other top searches included; Amsterdam, Dublin, Hamburg, Barcelona and Benidorm alongside Prague.

The wedding

The choice of whether to stay in the UK or head further afield doesn’t just apply to the stag and hen dos, as research showed more search for weddings abroad occur than for those in the UK. The top locations to get married abroad included both cities and countries, showing the split between engaged couples knowing exactly where they want and those searching more generally for ideas.

topp wedding locations abroad infographic

Italy came out top as the most popular place to get married abroad for Brits, which is hardly surprising considering the range of cities and islands you could choose from. The top 3 also included Santorini and Cyprus as the next popular destinations. Las Vegas came 4th, perhaps for quirky couples who want a no-frills wedding that you might see in the movies. The remaining list featured Mexico, France, Portugal, New York, Caribbean and Spain.

When looking a little deeper into search results, the top 3 types of international locations proved the beach to be the top spot to tie the knot abroad. Coming 2nd and 3rd were the venues of chateau and a Disney theme park. All three would make for a magical day and set the perfect backdrop for a wedding, just imagine the wedding photos!

In the UK, Essex was the most searched place for couples to look for weddings. Essex was followed by London and Kent, proving the South East in general to be popular. Cheshire came 4th overall and top of the north of England. Manchester and Yorkshire also featured in the north. South Wales, Hampshire, Surrey and Hertfordshire all also made the top 10.

In terms of venue types, Brits staying at home for their weddings preferred traditional venues. The most sought after venue for UK weddings was a barn, followed by banquet hall coming second and a castle in third place (a girl can always dream). Typical options including churches, hotels and hotels all made the list but some couples were looking for more low key venues like farms or even pubs.

The Honeymoon

Once the big day is done you can finally look ahead to a nice honeymoon, but just where are most Brits looking to getaway? Our results showed a definite preference for tropical backdrops and beach destinations, with the top 3 being Bali, Hawaii and Bora Bora. This was closely followed by the Maldives and Seychelles, continuing the trend of instgrammable beaches playing a part. Just think of the newlywed selfies you could take in one of these locations!

The remaining five in the list included Greece, Mexico, Las Vegas, Fiji and the Caribbean. This didn’t leave much room for city breaks, but we can’t blame couples for wanting a paradise-like holiday to celebrate their new status as a married couple.

Get the perfect wedding shoes to suit any venue with Ravel.

SS19 footwear arrives at Ravel

Posted on February 11, 2019

The latest SS19 collection has just launched at Ravel and we can’t wait to show you the new styles added. The SS19 collection gives a nod to the key looks of the season: vibrant contrast colours, soft metallics and animal prints. Designs flourish across elegant evening wear and versatile everyday sandals, exuding a new season confidence that will propel stylish women from AM to PM with ease!

Inspired by a return to basics and living in harmony with the land, this season we take it back to where the aesthetic is untreated with a neutral palette celebrating the diversity of the world.

Ravel has the perfect spring/summer shoes that will take you from poolside to beach bar and beyond. Our collection includes shoes to suit all preferences including; flats, heels, slingbacks and slip-ons. Take a look at our breakdown of the newest trends to shop now.

Mexican Street Party

The new range draws on the colours and textures of a Mexican street party, think vibrant and confident. ‘Fiesta’ brings the festival feel to your summer footwear and features multi-coloured weaved and vibrant satin uppers, tassel detailing and hurrache styling which are influenced by the artisanal details and vibrant hues of Mexico.

A summer fling for your feet, this collection includes essential styles such as the simple to slip-on Dania and the bold and elevating Dixie which offers added height with a block wedge heel. Also colourful is the smaller heeled Celmont, which features a detailed colour block heel in woven material.

Animal Prints

Some animal print sandals, such as leopard print, have been consistently on-trend for decades but others have joined them for the new season’s aesthetic. Zebra print is a trend you can expect to see everywhere this year and at Ravel this is no exception. The Manatee takes on the monochrome print effortlessly for a fashionable sandal you’ll want to wear throughout your summer endeavours. Leopard print gets a rework in our pony leather Franklin.

Day to Night Metallics

Our collection of metallic sandals were just made for nights out on holiday. A silver strappy option like the Jackson tick both heel and gladiator trends off in one, whilst the Yulee and Dixie sandals both offer a wedge heel, with the Yulee also providing pretty embellishment for a stunning result.

Pair our shimmering metallic sandals with a metallic clutch bag for a glam look or simply add to a simple dress for daytime chic.

Block Heels and Classic Shoes

The SS19 collection doesn’t just include sandals, we also have fresh takes on classic silhouettes such as court shoes and slingbacks for the new season. The court shoe gets a contemporary update with the addition of a block heel in our covetable Barton style, looking for a higher heel? Take a look at the taller Baldwin version.

The slingback also gets a block heel iteration in our Highlands shoe, which comes in a colour clashing fuschia with orange trim and a bold leopard print.

Traditional court shoes with a slimmer heel are also available, see our recurring Edson shoe for an array of colours and designs from denim to mesh.

Last but not least is our Brooker loafer, which updates the typical shape with a backless design to make it a slip-on fit. The Brooker has a suede upper which sumptuously soft for a comfortable fit and comes in a selection of colours and prints.

Footwear Ravel

The Ravel x V&A Women’s Footwear Collaboration

Posted on June 30, 2017

A wonderful collaboration of two British brands brings an assemblage of vibrant prints, inspired by the fabulous ‘70s. Ravel and the Victoria and Albert Museum, the world’s leading museum of art and design, bring you an exclusive collection inspired by the V&A’s archive of distinctive and popular 20th century textile designs. Created for SS17, the capsule collection of four classic styles includes a heeled court shoe, a block heeled sandal, a summer wedge and a structured flat shoe. In this ladies footwear range there really is a shoe style for everyone!

This exciting and innovative collection of women’s shoes is based around a striking floral and geometric print – both hand selected from the museum’s archive by the Ravel and V&A team. We wanted to encapsulate a summer print that would brighten up an outfit and bring life to ordinary shoe designs, making them a statement footwear option for those wanting something more from their everyday shoe, whether for work or play.

Taking influence from the 70s, a decade when Ravel was Carnaby Street’s top footwear destination, this range features fun, bright prints by renowned artist Mary Yonge (1908-2010) that successfully reflect Ravel’s signature sharp sense of style. Yonge taught at the Central School of Arts and Design and had a long and successful career designing bold and exciting fashion and furnishing prints for the major textiles manufacturers of the time. By turning her patterns into everyday footwear, it’s possible to enjoy the unique prints as not only works of art, but as practical items too.

Yonge’s striking textiles have been injected into the Ravel SS17 collection, including a brightly coloured pattern, composed of densely-packed flowers in pink and red paint, against an orange background, also composed of petal-like shapes. This floral pattern is ideal for summertime and we can just envisage them being teamed with floaty maxi dresses or capri pants for that holiday look. This collection of ladies footwear is a dream range for those who covet the popular bohemian trends of the groovy 70’s decade.

The below pattern draws heavily from the 70’s with bold colour blocking designs, composed of turquoise hexagons of increasing size arranged in rows, first alternating with brown diamonds, then surrounded by brown hexagons which form a connected lattice. This geometric pattern is very on-trend with modern fashion footwear, and the different shoe styles on offer means that you can choose to wear the same design in various situations and occasions. The court shoe and flat pump will deliver a delightful touch of subtle colour to a work day outfit, whilst the heeled sandal and wedges will give an extra style boost to casual outfits. Team with your favourite pair of skinny jeans or a midi length skirt to get the most out of these V&A shoes.

The Ravel design team worked closely with the V&A to retain the authenticity of the original printed fabrics and designed, and each pattern has been artfully re-imagined, with no compromise on the design or quality of the materials used to create each pair of shoes.

One of the more unexpected of designs in this fabulous V&A museum collaboration with Ravel is the pointed toe court shoes in a classic nude patent finish and distinctive red floral print lining reflected in the other V&A footwear pattern. These beautiful pointed toe court shoes are perfect for working into an office wardrobe due to their smart appearance and ability to be styled with any outfit. The mid heel offers just the right amount of height whilst the bohemian interior lining retains an amount of personality. Every woman needs a versatile shoe that will be comfortable and fashionable in equal measures, and we believe this V&A nude patent shoe is right on the money in terms of classic silhouette with an injection of retro decorative design.

If you’re a fan of 70s fashion, art and footwear, then the Ravel x V&A ladies footwear collection will be perfect for you! With the fashionable throwback inspiration behind the designs and created from high quality materials, each shoe is a versatile footwear option for any woman. From bohemian floral patterns to geometric inspired prints and a neutral shoe that every woman should have in her collection, there’s a style for everyone.

Take a closer look at the range to discover your favourite shoe design in one of the superb patterns taken straight from the famous museum’s archive and receive free UK delivery with your order.

Fashion Footwear Ravel

5 Ways To Brighten Up Your Office Outfit

Posted on June 25, 2017

It can be difficult to add seasonal changes to an office outfit, especially if there is a certain dress code in place. This summer however, you needn’t feel stuck in a rut with your outfit choices whilst at work because at Ravel we’ve got some excellent ways to brighten up your office outfit.

Firstly, let’s consider the popular summer shades that have the potential to work well as office attire when incorporated correctly:

Coral – A summer staple and an all round flattering colour on every skintone.
Green – One of the most popular shades for 2017 due to Pantone choosing it as their ‘Colour of The Year’ – from emerald green to lime green, it’s all groovy.
Pink – Not just any pink, but ‘millennial pink’ which is the shade everyone has been swooning over. It’s a beautiful dusky rose.
Blue – A whole spectrum of blue is perfect for summer, from cool water light blue to modern navy.

Now we have a colour palette in mind for ways to brighten up an office outfit, it’s time to take a look at our suggestions!

1. Sun-inspired accessories

An inexpensive way to update an otherwise plain work outfit is to treat yourself to some stylish accessories. As summer is all about embracing a new colour palette, accessories is a fabulous method of incorporating shades into your everyday work look. Plastic jewellery such as bangles or beads can radiate a bright colour especially well. A beautiful statement necklace can add extra style whilst also being eye-catching – the perfect finishing touch.

If you love your designer handbags but tend to steer towards a ‘safe’ colour such as black or navy, take it to another level by investing in an on-trend metallic bag or looking for a python print that will add a little something extra to create a fashion forward work ensemble.

If you’re not too keen on bright pops of colour in your accessories, you could simply layer up or coordinate your jewellery. For example, as rose gold is very much still in fashion, match a pair of rose gold earrings with a rose gold bracelet and necklace. You could also opt for a watch that has a coloured dial face. Another way to accessorise can be to layer necklaces or bracelets, or even ‘stack’ multiple rings onto one finger. It’s a subtle detail that will still be noticed, without being too overpowering.

2. Summer footwear

Here at Ravel we believe that a good pair of shoes can change your entire mood, whatever the occasion. When you’re wearing uninspiring footwear for work, you just might feel that your whole outfit isn’t as great as you want it to be!

For those who prefer a bit of height to their everyday shoe, we suggest working the combination style of a wedge and espadrille for summertime. A wedge espadrille can make you feel summery even when you’re sat inside enjoying the office air con, and we have a number of espadrille wedges to take your fancy here at Ravel. Choose from black, navy or coral coloured wedge espadrilles for assured style that can be worn with skirts and trousers.

If there’s no policy on open toe shoes in your office, then hurrah! This summer calls for a stylish sandal that can add a spring to your step from the photocopier to your desk. Get on board with the ever so popular embroidery trend with the Ravel Savannah flat sandals in white leather with beautiful floral embroidered detailing, or swap your usual black footwear for a more summer season appropriate hue with the Ravel Anderson strappy sandals in tan. Bring the timeless denim trend into the office without wearing jeans by opting for the Ravel Ritzville flat sandals in blue denim which can be worn from desk to cocktails with friends!

3. Embrace prints

It’s such a classic look but animal prints and other creative patterns can work wonders to bring an outfit right up to date. Subtle pops of leopard print or Aztec print fit right in with summer wardrobes and can be styled effortlessly for work too! Our V&A footwear collaboration will suit those who seek some exceptional prints due to the patterns that are taken directly from an artist’s work from the V&A archive. We love that the V&A footwear takes a print and makes it work perfectly on different footwear styles, such as ballet pumps, wedges, pointed court shoes and sandals. The V&A women’s shoes with the red rose pattern would be a wonderful pop of colour for an otherwise plain work outfit, as would the intriguing 70s inspired print with browns and turquoise colour scheme. The flat pumps and pointed court shoes are absolutely ideal for the work environment.

4. Lighten your wardrobe

An obvious yet failsafe method of brightening your work outfit options is to invest in a summer work wardrobe. Trade the darker colours with lighter ones, or opt for light shades of your current favourites if you don’t want to step too far outside of your comfort zone. The ‘millennial pink’ is a popular top colour, whilst textures such as ruffles are an important summertime detail not to miss out on. Similarly, with the prints mentioned above, a patterned shirt can really bring some elevated style to your look as a welcome summertime outfit option for work. From polka dots to paisley, something that will bring your outfit to life is exactly what you need! If you’re feeling daring, why not try out a white trouser suit?

5. Nail it at work

The power of a good manicure and pedicure should never be underestimated. Bright colours on the fingernails (and toes if they’re being shown off in sandals) can lift your mood whilst adding to an overall outfit. If you’re current work wardrobe is tethered to the usual colour scheme of greys, creams, black and white, then temporary changes such as painted nails can go a long way into brightening up the look, even if it is subtle! Whilst red will always be a staple nail varnish shade, try a vibrant turquoise or coral nail varnish for summer that will contrast wonderfully against a grey or navy jacket, or select a lovely lilac nail polish shade that will bring a touch of femininity to your office outfit.

Brighten your work outfit this summer with Ravel and take a look at our popular range of sandals, flat pumps and wedge espadrilles to add some seasonal updates to your footwear collection.

Footwear Ravel SS17

SS17 has landed!!

Posted on February 1, 2017

Ladies! Our SS17 collection has landed! Here’s what to expect…

The sensational SS17 range from Ravel brings an assemblage of exotic and vibrant prints with textured detailing incorporated in bohemian platforms, sleek stiletto heels, fabulous flats and sumptuous block heels.

Channeling a bohemian ‘70s vibe, the new range encapsulates tribal woven textiles, floral prints, beading and leatherwork, combined to create a hand-made aesthetic to lace-up heeled and flat sandals.

Vintage boho beach reigns supreme in the form of retro nautical uppers to high summer wedge and platform heels with rope detailing and a pastel palette to create a nostalgic feel. Washed finish textiles and woven stripes give a rich depth to materials.

Metallic shades lend a touch of luxe to loafers and lace-up brogues, combining hand crafted techniques with chunky metal fastenings. Reverse seams and natural cork are juxtaposed with metal eyelets and chunky zips. Animal print uppers add a touch of exotic to high summer options, giving some serious sass to the collection.

Calling upon the linear art deco architecture and pastel palette of Miami Beach, perforated suedes, elastics and colour blocking, along with unexpected colour pops bring a sporty aesthetic, ensuring Ravel’s SS17 range offers footwear you can have plenty of fun with!

AW16 Fashion Footwear Ravel

Ravel’s AW16 styles have landed!

Posted on August 5, 2016

Ravel remains at the forefront of fashion forward footwear for AW16 with a savvy collection of sumptuous boot and shoe styles. This season is all about texture, detail and a rich autumnal palette for chic day-to-night styling.

The collection centres around subtle details and bold silhouettes, with oxblood, navy and rich browns for the season ahead. Think chic ankle boots adorned with studs, zips and buckle features, finished in sumptuous velvet. Expect classic courts and plenty of platform heels for the party season. Knee high boots with serious attitude will keep your style credentials soaring, with added detail in the form of fur trims.

Glitzy gold detailing is back in the spotlight, featuring heavily across the collection, promising to add plenty of sparkle to an autumn/winter wardrobe.